The ratio of albumin to lactoferrin in tear fluid as a diagnostic tool in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the protein composition of tear fluid obtained from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, patients with other connective tissue diseases and control individuals.


METHODS
SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by staining with Coomassie blue and Western blotting.


RESULTS
Comparison revealed the presence of a characteristic difference in the ratio of intensity between the albumin and lactoferrin bands. An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 was significantly more common in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome than in patients with other connective tissue diseases or the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 may therefore prove of use when diagnosing 1(0)SS. Used as a test, its sensitivity was 67% and its specificity 100%.
Bjerrum
K B
KB
Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
D000418:Albumins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C042434:tear proteins; D007781:Lactoferrin